Martensitic Stainless Steel with High Strength, High Toughness and High Corrosion Resistance

ABSTRACT

A method of producing a high performance stainless steel exhibiting corrosion resistance even under a very severe corrosion environment at temperatures of equal to or higher than 180° C., for example, 220° C., while maintaining strength and toughness by improving the corrosion resistance of a conventional martensitic stainless steel with high strength. The martensitic stainless steel includes, in mass %, C: 0.005% to 0.05%, Si: equal to or less than 1.0%, Mn: equal to or less than 2.0%, Cr: 16 to 18%, Ni: 2.5 to 6.5%, Mo: 1.5 to 3.5%, W: equal to or less than 3.5%, Cu: equal to or less than 3.5%, V: 0.01 to 0.08%, Sol.Al: 0.005 to 0.10%, N: equal to or less than 0.05%, and Ta: 0.01 to 0.06%, and the balance Fe with inevitable impurities.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/421,927, filed Feb. 16, 2015, which is the United States national phase of International Application No. PCT/JP2013/062004 filed Apr. 24, 2013, and claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-184802 filed Aug. 24, 2012, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a martensitic stainless steel having a high strength, a high toughness, and a high corrosion resistance, particularly relates to martensitic stainless steel with a high strength, high toughness, and high corrosion resistance suitable for use in an environment containing a high temperature humid carbon dioxide gas in drilling for and transporting petroleum and natural gas, and to a method of producing the same.

BACKGROUND ART

Cases where petroleum and natural gas produced in recent years contain a large amount of a humid carbon dioxide gas have been increasing, and a martensitic stainless steel of 13% Cr series stainless steel has been used in place of a conventional carbon steel as a material of a steel pipe or the like used in drilling for and transporting such petroleum and natural gas.

However, although the conventional martensitic stainless steel is excellent in a corrosion resistance against a humid carbon dioxide gas (hereinafter, referred to as “corrosion resistance”) up to 180° C., the corrosion resistance is not sufficient at temperatures of higher than 180° C. Further, a steel pipe or the like used in drilling for or transporting petroleum or natural gas is placed under a high temperature and a high pressure environment, and therefore, it is also preferable that the steel pipe has a high strength as well as an excellent toughness.

Therefore, a stainless steel exhibiting a corrosion resistance at a temperature of equal to or higher than 180° C., for example, 220° C. while maintaining a strength and a toughness has been desired.

Patent Literatures 1 to 7 disclose such stainless steels exhibiting corrosion resistances at temperatures of equal to or higher than about 180° C. A basic concept of the stainless steels disclosed in the literatures is that a corrosion resistance is maintained under an environment of a high temperature and humid dioxide gas by increasing an amount of Cr.

Patent Literatures 1 and 2 disclose high strength-stainless steel pipes for an oil well having C, Si, Mn, Cr, Ni, Mo, W, Cu, V, and N in specific compositions. Patent Literature 1 produced a stainless steel having a strength up to 792 MPa in a yield stress, and investigated a toughness or the like thereof. In Patent Literature 2, no description is found concerning a strength, and only a toughness was investigated. An investigation concerning a higher strength stainless steel was not carried out in either of Patent Literatures 1 and 2.

In Patent Literatures 3 to 7, although there were examples investigating high strength steels which are equivalent to or higher than those of Patent Literatures 1 and 2, investigations concerning toughness thereof were not carried out. Generally, a stainless steel pipe is deteriorated in a toughness thereof by making a strength thereof higher. Therefore, it seems that the toughness of the stainless steels disclosed in the literatures cannot withstand completely drilling for or transportation of petroleum or natural gas.

PRIOR ART LITERATURE Patent Literatures

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-81793

Patent Literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-209402

Patent Literature 3: Japanese Patent No. 2814528

Patent Literature 4: Japanese Patent No. 4577457

Patent Literature 5: Japanese Patent No. 4761008

Patent Literature 6: Japanese Patent No. 4911266

Patent Literature 7: WO2009/119048

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Furthermore, an environment encountered by a steel pipe, particularly, an oil well pipe has been severer and severer, and there is a necessity for a steel pipe having a high strength of equal to or higher than 758 MPa, exhibiting an excellent corrosion resistance against a humid dioxide gas at temperatures of equal to or higher than 180° C., and also being excellent in a toughness. Hence, it is an object of the present invention to provide a high performance-stainless steel exhibiting a corrosion resistance even under a very severe corrosion environment at temperatures of equal to or higher than 180° C., for example, 220° C. while maintaining a strength and a toughness thereof.

Here, an aimed performance is set as follows in view of a performance requested for a steel pipe for drilling for or transportation of petroleum or natural gas including a carbon dioxide gas. Further, as the steel pipe, although a main object of the present invention is an oil well pipe, also a steel pipe for a line pipe for transportation for which a similar performance is requested can be an object.

strength: equal to or higher than 758 MPa and equal to or lower than 965 MPa in a 0.2% proof stress.

toughness: an absorbed energy in a Charpy full size test at −20° C. is equal to or higher than 100 J.

corrosion resistance: a corrosion rate is 0.5 mm/year or less under an environment of a 20% NaCl aqueous solution, 220° C., and 10 atmospheric pressure-CO₂.

The present inventors have acquired the following knowledge as a result of carrying out an intensive research in order to solve the problem described above.

Although an increase of Cr and Mo which are ferrite forming elements is effective for enhancing a corrosion resistance of a martensitic stainless steel, on the other hand, the increase of the elements forms more δ-ferrite phase, and a hot workability as well as a strength and a toughness of the steel may be deteriorated. Although an increase of Ni which is an austenite forming element is effective for controlling formation of the δ-ferrite phase, a tempering temperature in production may be restricted. Hence, according to the present invention, Cr, Mo, and Ni are brought into optimum ranges described later, thereby, the formation of the δ-ferrite is restrained.

Further, when a large amount of the austenite forming elements is contained and the tempering temperature is high, there is a case where a small amount of austenite is precipitated, which hampers enhancement of strength of a stainless steel, and therefore, also formation of the austenite phase needs to be controlled. Particularly, a tendency of accelerating the austenite formation by an increase of Ni is strong, and an amount of Ni is restricted.

Generally, when a strength of the steel is made higher, a toughness thereof is deteriorated. The present inventors have found a synergistic effect that a martensitic stainless steel containing a pertinent amount of V in the stainless steel, and further containing simultaneously a pertinent amount of Ta as an indispensable component is easy to disperse a precipitate of a fine carbide into a matrix of the stainless steel after a heat treatment as compared with a case of individually adding V or Ta or a case of simultaneously adding V and Nb, and the enhancement of strength while maintaining a toughness is facilitated. Also, the present inventors have found that its effect is more significant by further adding Nb in addition to V and Ta.

Based on the knowledge described above, the present inventors have completed a novel martensitic stainless steel having a high toughness and a high strength and being excellent in a corrosion resistance under an environment at temperatures of equal to or higher than 180° C. and its production method, which martensitic stainless was not realized in the conventional martensitic stainless steel. The martensitic stainless steel has been attained by making the steel contain certain amounts of V and Ta, or V, Ta, and Nb, adjusting a heat treatment condition in a certain range in order to stably acquire a strength of equal to or higher than 758 MPa in a constant range, and making the carbide precipitate to disperse uniformly in the matrix in consideration of a restriction of a metallographic structure described above.

That is, the present invention provides a martensitic stainless steel having a high strength of equal to or higher than 758 MPa which can be used under a humid carbon dioxide gas environment at temperatures of equal to or higher than 180° C. while maintaining a toughness thereof, by improving a corrosion resistance of the conventional high strength-martensitic stainless steel by limiting an alloy composition and a production condition in certain ranges.

That is, the present invention is as follows.

(1) A martensitic stainless steel containing, in mass %, C: 0.005% to 0.05%, Si: equal to or less than 1.0%, Mn: equal to or less than 2.0%, Cr: 16 to 18%, Ni: 2.5 to 6.5%, Mo: 1.5 to 3.5%, W: equal to or less than 3.5%, Cu: equal to or less than 3.5%, V: 0.01 to 0.08%, Sol.Al: 0.005 to 0.10%, N: equal to or less than 0.05%, and Ta: 0.01 to 0.06%, and the balance Fe with inevitable impurities.

(2) The martensitic stainless steel described in (1) above, further containing, in mass %, Nb: equal to or less than 0.1%.

(3) The martensitic stainless steel described in (1) or (2) above, in which a 0.2% proof stress thereof is equal to or higher than 758 MPa and equal to or lower than 965 MPa, an absorbed energy thereof in a Charpy full size test at −20° C. is equal to or higher than 100 J, and a corrosion rate thereof under an environment of a 20% NaCl aqueous solution, 220° C., and 10 atmospheric pressure-CO₂ is equal to or lower than 0.5 mm/year.

(4) A martensitic stainless steel pipe for an oil well, a gas well, or a line pipe comprising the martensitic stainless steel described in any one of (1) to (3) above.

(5) A method of producing a martensitic stainless steel including the steps of: subjecting the martensitic stainless steel having a composition as described in (1) or (2) above to hot working, thereafter forming austenite in the stainless steel at a temperature of equal to or higher than 800° C. and equal to or lower than 980° C. and successively quenching and cooling the steel at a temperature of equal to or lower than 100° C., followed by tempering the steel at a temperature of equal to or higher than 500° C. and equal to or lower than 700° C.

According to the present invention, martensitic stainless steel with a high strength, high toughness, and high corrosion resistance which is excellent in a toughness, and in which a corrosion resistance is good against carbon dioxide gas corrosion under an environment at a temperature of equal to or higher than 180° C., can be obtained by specifying an alloy composition and a production condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A description will be given of the reason of adding alloy elements in a martensitic stainless steel of the present invention, the reason of limiting amounts thereof, and the reason of limiting production conditions as follows. Incidentally, a content of each alloy element in the steel is a value based on a mass in which a total of the steel is 100% unless specified otherwise.

(1) Content Composition Range

<C: 0.005 to 0.05%>

C is a strong austenite forming element, and an element which is indispensable also for achieving a high strength in a stainless steel. However, when tempering is carried out in producing the steel, C is bonded with Cr and is precipitated as a carbide thereof, which deteriorates a corrosion resistance and a toughness of the steel. When a content of C is less than 0.005%, a sufficient strength is not achieved, and when the content of C exceeds 0.05%, the deterioration becomes significant, and therefore, the content is set at 0.005 to 0.05%©.

<Si: Equal to or Less than 1.0%>

Although Si is an element which is necessary as a deoxidizer, Si is also a strong ferrite forming element. In the martensitic stainless steel of the present invention, it is necessary to control ferrite for achieving a high strength and a high toughness. When Si is included in the stainless steel in an amount of exceeding 1.0%, it is difficult to control ferrite, and therefore, an upper limit of the content is set at 1.0%, preferably 0.5%, further preferably 0.3%.

<Mn: Equal to or Less than 2.0%>

Mn is effective as a deoxidizer and a desulfurizing agent. However, Mn reduces a corrosion resistance of the stainless steel, and therefore, an upper limit of the content is set at 2.0%, preferably 0.5%, further preferably 0.3%.

<Cr: 16 to 18%>

Cr is a basic element constituting the martensitic stainless steel, and is an important element which manifests a corrosion resistance. In a case where the corrosion resistance is taken into consideration under a severe environment at temperatures of equal to or higher than 180° C., when the content is less than 16%, a sufficient corrosion resistance is not achieved, when the content exceeds 18%, its effect is saturated, and a problem is posed in view of economy, and therefore, the content is set at 16 to 18%.

<Ni: 2.5 to 6.5%>

Ni is an element which enhances a corrosion resistance of a stainless steel and is extremely effective for stabilizing austenite. However, when the content thereof is less than 2.5%, its effect is not sufficiently achieved and on the other hand, when the content is increased, a transformation temperature (Ac1 point) of martensite is lowered, restricting a tempering temperature in producing the martensitic stainless steel of the present invention. Furthermore, when the content of Ni is increased, there is a case where austenite is precipitated, which hampers enhancement of strength of the stainless steel. Hence, the content of Ni is set at 2.5 to 6.5%.

<Mo: 1.5 to 3.5%>

Mo is an element which is particularly effective for enhancing a corrosion resistance of the stainless steel. However, when the content thereof is less than 1.5%, its effect is not exhibited, and when the content exceeds 3.5%, it is difficult to control ferrite, and therefore, the content is set at 1.5 to 3.5%.

<W, Cu: Equal to or Less than 3.5%>

All of these are elements which are effective for enhancing the strength and the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel. In a case of adding W and/or Cu, when each amount exceeds 3.5%, a hot workability of the steel is deteriorated, and therefore, an upper limit thereof is set at 3.5%.

<V: 0.01 to 0.08%>

V is a strong carbide forming element and contributes to increase the strength of the steel by making a crystal grain of carbide fine by uniformly precipitating the fine carbide within a matrix grain of the stainless steel and preventing the fine carbide from being precipitated preferentially on a grain boundary. The carbide is precipitated finely and uniformly in this way, and therefore, an increase in the strength is achieved without lowering the toughness of the steel. When the content of V is less than 0.01%, the effect of increasing the strength is not exhibited, when the content exceeds 0.08%, the effect is saturated, and therefore, the content is set at 0.01 to 0.08%, preferably 0.02 to 0.04%.

<Sol.Al: 0.005 to 0.10%>

Acid soluble Al (Sol.Al) is added for deoxidizing the stainless steel in a refining step and for enhancing the toughness of the steel by making a γ grain fine through precipitation of AlN. When the content thereof is less than 0.005%, a toughness enhancing effect is not achieved, on the contrary, when the content exceeds 0.10%, the toughness may be reduced, and therefore, the content is set at 0.005 to 0.10%.

<N: Equal to or Less than 0.05%>

N is an element which is harmful in enhancing the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel, and is also an austenite forming element. When N is contained in an amount of exceeding 0.05%, N is precipitated as a nitride in tempering when the martensitic stainless steel of the present invention is produced, and the corrosion resistance and the toughness of the steel are deteriorated, and therefore, an upper limit of the content is set at 0.05%, preferably 0.02%.

<Ta: 0.01 to 0.06%>

Ta is a strong carbide forming element and contributes to increase the strength of the steel by uniformly precipitating a fine carbide of Ta within a matrix grain of the stainless steel. The fine carbide is uniformly precipitated, and therefore, an increase in the strength can be achieved without reducing the toughness of the steel. Further, by adding a certain amount of Ta along with V described above, higher strength and toughness can be achieved than those in a case of adding either one of Ta and V. When the content of Ta is less than 0.01%, an effect of enhancing the strength is not exhibited, when the content exceeds 0.06%, its effect is generally saturated, and the addition is not preferable also in view of cost. Therefore, the content is set at 0.01 to 0.06%.

<Nb: Equal to or Less than 0.1%>

According to the present invention, Nb may be included other than the basic components described above. Nb is a strong carbide forming element and increases the strength of the stainless steel by making the crystal grain fine through precipitation of the fine carbide of Nb. When the content thereof exceeds 0.1%, its effect is saturated, and therefore, the content is set equal to or less than 0.1%, preferably equal to or less than 0.05%.

<Balance>

Further, in the martensitic stainless steel of the present invention, the balance other than the components explained above consists of Fe and inevitable impurities. Among inevitable impurities represented by P, S, and O, when an amount of P is equal to or less than 0.04% and that of S is equal to or less than 0.01%, no hindrance is configured in producing a seamless steel pipe or an electric resistance welded steel pipe with a hot-rolled steel plate as a material thereof which is considered to embody the present invention. However, all of the impurities are elements deteriorating the hot workability of the steel, and the smaller the contents, the more preferable it is. Also, concerning inevitable impurities of O and the like, the lower the content, the more preferable it is.

<Properties of Martensitic Stainless Steel>

A martensitic stainless steel of 758 MPa or higher which can be used in a humid carbon dioxide gas environment at temperatures of equal to or higher than 180° C. while maintaining the toughness can be obtained by improving the corrosion resistance of the conventional high strength-martensitic stainless steel by adjusting the stainless steel used in the present invention to have the composition component range described above.

Specifically, a 0.2% proof stress of the martensitic stainless steel of the present invention is equal to or higher than 758 MPa and equal to or lower than 965 MPa, an absorbed energy thereof in a Charpy full size test at −20° C. is equal to or higher than 100 J, preferably, equal to or higher than 200 J, a corrosion rate thereof under an environment of a 20% NaCl aqueous solution, 220° C., and 10 atmospheric pressure-CO₂ is equal to or lower than 0.5 mm/year, preferably, equal to or lower than 0.3 mm/year. Incidentally, when the 0.2% proof stress exceeds 965 MPa, in a case where a small amount of hydrogen is included in the stainless steel by corrosion or the like, a crack is liable to be brought about in the steel.

According to the present invention, a pertinent strength, a high toughness, and a high corrosion resistance which can withstand the use in a severe environment are achieved by executing prescribed production conditions with a composition of the stainless steel as the metal composition described above.

(2) Production Steps of Martensitic Stainless Steel

The martensitic stainless steel of the present invention can be produced by the following production method.

The martensitic stainless steel with the component composition adjusted to the range described above is melted by a converter or an electric furnace and is made into a bloom, a slab or a billet by an ordinary ingot casting method followed by blooming or slabbing or a continuous casting method. The bloom, slab or billet is subjected to hot working, and is provided with a prescribed shape of a seamless steel pipe or a steel plate as needed (in the martensitic stainless steel under this state, a strength, a toughness and the like aimed by the present invention are not achieved). The hot-worked steel is heated at a temperature of equal to or higher than 800° C., and equal to or lower than 980° C. to form austenite, successively quenched and cooled to a temperature of equal to or lower than 100° C., and successively tempered at a temperature of equal to or higher than 500° C. and equal to or lower than 700° C. A description will be given of heating temperatures in quenching and tempering operations as follows.

<a. Heating Temperature: Equal to or Higher than 800° C. and Equal to or Lower than 980° C.>

When the heating temperature is less than 800° C., austenite is not formed in the stainless steel, an effect of quenching is not achieved, and therefore, a lower limit of the heating temperature is set at 800° C. On the other hand, when the heating temperature exceeds 980° C., a crystal grain is coarsened to deteriorate a toughness, and therefore, an upper limit of the heating temperature is set at 980° C.

<b. Tempering Temperature: Equal to or Higher than 500° C. and Equal to or Lower than 700° C.>

A tempering treatment is generally a treatment which is carried out for providing a toughness to a steel. According to the present invention, in addition to the provision of the toughness, this is a step indispensable for enhancing strength of a stainless steel by uniformly dispersing and precipitating fine carbides of V and Ta. However, when a tempering temperature exceeds 700° C., a 0.2% proof stress of equal to or higher than 758 MPa is not achieved, and therefore, an upper limit of the tempering temperature is set at 700° C. Also, when the tempering temperature is lower than 500° C., the precipitation of the carbide is not sufficient, the aimed 0.2% proof stress and the aimed toughness are not achieved, and therefore, a lower limit of the tempering temperature is set at 500° C.

Examples

A description will be given of specific embodiments of the present invention as follows. The present inventors produced martensitic stainless steels by melting invented steels N1 to N8 and comparative steels C1 to C5 having chemical compositions shown in Table 1 described below as test steels (martensitic stainless steels), producing steel plates having a thickness of 12 mm by hot rolling, thereafter, carrying out heat treatments (quenching and tempering treatments) shown in Table 2 described below. Incidentally, the steel plates were cooled down to room temperature by water after the quenching heat treatment, thereafter, subjected to a tempering heat treatment.

Tests of mechanical properties (strength and toughness), and a corrosion resistance were carried out under the following conditions concerning the martensitic stainless steels. Incidentally, the comparative steels C1 and C5 are steels which do not include Ta. Further, the comparative steel C2 is a steel in which a content of V does not reach the lower limit of the present invention, the comparative steel C3 is a steel in which contents of Cr and Mo do not reach the lower limits of the present invention, and the comparative steel C4 is a steel in which a content of Ta exceeds the upper limit value of the present invention.

strength: a 0.2 proof stress at ordinary temperature

toughness: an absorbed energy (J) in a Charpy full size test at −20° C. corrosion resistance: a corrosion rate over 2 weeks under an environment of a 20% NaCl aqueous solution, 220° C., 10 atmospheric pressure-CO₂.

Table 3 described below shows a test result of the mechanical properties and the corrosion resistance.

TABLE 1 chemical composition (mass %) of test steels Steel No. C Si Mn P S Ni Cr Mo Cu W N Sol. Al V Nb Ta Reference N1 0.022 0.21 0.22 0.014 0.001 4.05 17.12 2.61 1.00 0.00 0.012 0.041 0.032 0.000 0.015 Invented steel N2 0.024 0.20 0.22 0.014 0.001 4.03 16.97 2.58 1.50 0.00 0.012 0.038 0.031 0.000 0.016 Invented steel N3 0.021 0.21 0.21 0.013 0.001 4.06 17.19 2.65 0.01 0.00 0.015 0.035 0.033 0.000 0.031 Invented steel N4 0.016 0.22 0.21 0.012 0.001 4.64 17.25 3.15 0.01 0.00 0.014 0.021 0.034 0.000 0.034 Invented steel N5 0.018 0.22 0.21 0.011 0.001 4.04 17.24 2.62 0.01 0.49 0.016 0.025 0.033 0.000 0.033 Invented steel N6 0.019 0.22 0.22 0.012 0.001 4.55 16.57 2.61 0.01 0.98 0.015 0.024 0.034 0.000 0.034 Invented steel N7 0.022 0.20 0.24 0.011 0.001 5.55 17.67 1.53 3.10 3.03 0.013 0.037 0.028 0.040 0.018 Invented steel N8 0.020 0.20 0.22 0.012 0.001 4.48 17.11 2.55 0.01 0.00 0.013 0.039 0.065 0.000 0.030 Invented steel C1 0.021 0.22 0.24 0.013 0.001 4.03 17.18 2.64 0.01 0.00 0.012 0.038 0.033 0.000 0.000 Comparative steel C2 0.023 0.21 1.98 0.013 0.001 3.01 17.22 2.65 0.01 0.00 0.014 0.037 0.003 0.000 0.033 Comparative steel C3 0.021 0.21 0.22 0.014 0.001 3.52 15.53 1.34 0.01 0.00 0.014 0.033 0.033 0.000 0.025 Comparative steel C4 0.023 0.21 0.21 0.013 0.001 4.05 17.17 2.64 0.01 0.00 0.015 0.032 0.032 0.000 0.073 Comparative steel C5 0.022 0.20 0.21 0.012 0.001 4.11 16.89 2.55 0.01 0.00 0.012 0.035 0.033 0.027 0.000 Comparative steel

TABLE 2 heat treatment condition (° C.) of test steels Steel No. Quenching Tempering Reference N1 920 600 Invented steel N2A 940 600 Invented steel N2B 930 575 Invented steel N3 920 575 Invented steel N4 910 590 Invented steel N5 920 600 Invented steel N6A 920 600 Invented steel N6B 930 575 Invented steel N7 900 600 Invented steel N8 920 580 Invented steel C1 920 600 Comparative steel C2 920 585 Comparative steel C3 910 580 Comparative steel C4 900 555 Comparative steel C5 900 560 Comparative steel

TABLE 3 test result Corrosion 0.2% Absorbed resistance proof energy (corrosion Steel stress J at rate) General No. MPa −20° C. mm/year evaluation Reference N1 827 275 0.12 Good Invented steel N2A 869 272 0.06 Good Invented steel N2B 902 268 0.09 Good Invented steel N3 762 276 0.47 Good Invented steel N4 773 123 0.05 Good Invented steel N5 780 182 0.15 Good Invented steel N6A 778 109 0.22 Good Invented steel N6B 798 105 0.21 Good Invented steel N7 949 210 0.02 Good Invented steel N8 820 255 0.11 Good Invented steel C1 710 288 0.53 No Good Comparative steel C2 638 98 0.55 No Good Comparative steel C3 775 279 0.82 No Good Comparative steel C4 974 170 0.45 No Good Comparative steel C5 998 133 0.42 No Good Comparative steel *Concerning corrosion resistance, a corrosion rate per year was calculated from a corrosion rate over 2 weeks

Concerning all of the invented steels of “N1, N2A, N2B, N3, N4, N5, N6A, N6B, N7, N8”, the 0.2% proof stress, and the absorbed energy in the Charpy full size test fell in target ranges. Also, the corrosion resistance achieved the target value.

On the other hand, in comparative steels, C1 and C5 are steels which do not include Ta, C2 is a steel in which the V content does not reach the lower limit of the present invention, C3 is a steel in which Cr and Mo contents do not reach the lower limits of the present invention, and C4 is a steel in which the Ta content exceeds the upper limit value of the present invention.

That is, any of the components are deviated from the ranges of the present invention, and therefore, as for results thereof, the aimed 0.2% proof stress, toughness or corrosion resistance are not achieved. Particularly, in C2, even when tempering was carried out at a temperature of below 600° C., the strength of 758 MPa class could not be achieved, and also concerning the toughness and the corrosion resistance, target values could not be achieved. From the above, by a composite addition of V+Ta, an improvement in properties which could not be achieved by single addition of V or Ta was achieved and the synergistic effect by the composite addition was recognized.

The martensitic stainless steel of the present invention has the corrosion resistance, maintains the toughness despite the high strength equal to or higher than 758 MPa, can be used in the humid carbon dioxide gas environment at temperatures equal to or higher than 180° C., and can preferably be applied as a steel pipe for drilling for or transporting petroleum or natural gas including the carbon dioxide gas (martensitic stainless steel pipe for an oil well or a gas well or a line pipe). 

1. A method of producing a martensitic stainless steel comprising: providing a steel comprising in mass %, C: 0.005% to 0.05%, Si: equal to or less than 1.0%, Mn: equal to or less than 2.0%, Cr: 16 to 18%, Ni: 2.5 to 6.5%, Mo: 1.5 to 3.5%, W: equal to or less than 3.5%, Cu: equal to or less than 3.5%, V: 0.01 to 0.08%, Sol.Al: 0.005 to 0.10%, N: equal to or less than 0.05%, and Ta: 0.01 to 0.06%, and the balance Fe with inevitable impurities; hot-working the steel; heating the hot-worked steel to form austenite in the hot-worked steel at a temperature equal to or higher than 800° C. and equal to or lower than 980° C.; quenching and cooling the heated steel at a temperature equal to or lower than 100° C.; and tempering the quenched steel at a temperature equal to or higher than 500° C. and equal to or lower than 700° C.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the steel further comprises, in mass %, Nb: equal to or less than 0.1%.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein an absorbed energy of the martensitic stainless steel in a Charpy full size test at −20° C. is equal to or higher than 100 J.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a 0.2% proof stress of the martensitic stainless steel is equal to or higher than 758 MPa and equal to or lower than 965 a, an absorbed energy of the martensitic stainless steel in a Charpy full size test at −20° C. is equal to or higher than 100 J, and a corrosion rate of the martensitic stainless steel under an environment of a 20% NaCl aqueous solution at 220° C. and 10 atmospheric pressure-CO₂ is equal to or lower than 0.5 mm/year.
 5. A method of producing a martensitic stainless steel pipe for an oil well, a gas well, or a line pipe comprising providing the martensitic stainless steel produced by the method according to claim
 1. 6. The method according to claim 2, wherein an absorbed energy of the martensitic stainless steel in a Charpy full size test at −20° C. is equal to or higher than 100 J.
 7. The method according to claim 2, wherein a 0.2% proof stress of the martensitic stainless steel is equal to or higher than 758 MPa and equal to or lower than 965 MPa, an absorbed energy of the martensitic stainless steel of in a Charpy full size test at −20° C. is equal to or higher than 100 J, and a corrosion rate of the martensitic stainless steel under an environment of a 20% NaCl aqueous solution at 220° C. and 10 atmospheric pressure-CO₂ is equal to or lower than 0.5 mm/year.
 8. A method of producing a martensitic stainless steel pipe for an oil well, a gas well, or a line pipe comprising providing the martensitic stainless steel produced by the method according to claim
 2. 9. A method of producing a martensitic stainless steel pipe for an oil well, a gas well, or a line pipe comprising providing the martensitic stainless steel produced by the method according to claim
 3. 10. A method of producing a martensitic stainless steel pipe for an oil well, a gas well, or a line pipe comprising providing the martensitic stainless steel produced by the method according to claim
 4. 11. A method of producing a martensitic stainless steel pipe for an oil well, a gas well, or a line pipe comprising providing the martensitic stainless steel produced by the method according to claim
 6. 12. A method of producing a martensitic stainless steel pipe for an oil well, a gas well, or a line pipe comprising providing the martensitic stainless steel produced by the method according to claim
 7. 